Milton Keynes Hospital Radio

16/10/2026

Tina is back for the Rock show!

From classic anthems to the latest chart-toppers, we've got your rock cravings covered. Don't miss out on the ultimate rock experience!

Tune in from 9-10 pm at www.mkhrs.org.uk

15/10/2026

at Milton Keynes Theatre : An Irresistible ABBA-Filled night out

Following the global success of the film Mamma Mia and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the plot will already be familiar to most. For those who do not know it, the musical follows Sophie, a 20-year-old who invites three men to her wedding, each of whom could be her father. When all three show up at the resort on the remote Greek island, Mum Donna has nowhere to hide.

Mamma Mia is a cheesy comfort show in the best sense of the word. Although the stage production follows the plot of the iconic film, its greatest strength is the way it uses ABBA’s songs to keep the story moving, even if the connection is sometimes tenuous. The entire cast delivers fantastic performances, but Jenn Griffin’s rendition of The Winner Takes It All is the standout.

Hazel is excellent as innocent Sophie, bringing a unique take on 'What's the name of the game' whilst performing iconic hits like I have a dream flawlessly. Her chemistry with Samuel Downey led to a brilliant rendition of lay all your love on me.

Donna’s friends Rosie (Lauren Woolf) and Tanya (Sarah Earnshaw), together with Sophie’s friends Lisa (Lex Richardson) and Ali (Rachel Seirian), bring spectacular energy to every scene they appear in. Their playful bedroom rendition of Dancing Queen, performed with hairbrushes and hairdryers as microphones, is a firm favourite and captures the show’s infectious sense of fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously at any point.

The dads; Bill Austin (Simon Victor), Headbanger Harry Bright (Arvid Larsen) and Sam Carmichael (Richard Taylor Woods) are experts in their slightly over-the-top performances, balancing playful exaggeration with heartfelt moments.

My only reservation is the very loud instrumental medley that opens each set. In a jukebox musical already packed with familiar songs, it feels unnecessary and is quite jarring when it starts. Even so, it is a minor flaw in an otherwise superb production.

Mamma Mia is at MK Theatre until 24 October 2026. This is a show that everybody can watch, so grab tickets for the whole family.

07/10/2026

06/10/2026

Through its set design, script and portrayal of neurodiversity in women, at proves deceptively simple and quietly ingenious.

Chris Boone is an autistic 15-year-old who excels at maths and approaches problems with unfaltering logic. When Wellington, the next-door neighbour’s dog, is killed with a pitchfork, she decides to solve the crime herself. As she interrogates her neighbours, secrets come to the surface and her own life begins to unravel.

Alex Keenan () is sensational in her portrayal of Chris. By the finale, you cannot help rooting for her, while her inability to lie also creates some of the production’s funniest moments.

Working with Dr Sarah Jane Nuttall, a postdoctoral researcher in autism in women and girls, the creative team has rewritten the script with female representation in mind. Audiences familiar with the original production, in which Christopher was the lead, may remember its multimedia screens, LED lighting and sound creating a highly physical, in-your-face representation of his experience.

Eleanor Bull’s set takes an entirely different approach: it is stripped back and uses neutral, calming colours, reflecting how neurodiversity in women can be less visible. When Chris travels to London, light floods the stage and balls are released across it, each emblazoned with a sensory experience she is confronting. The staging is simple in its delivery but highly effective in its representation.

I initially found Charlie Brooks’s and Joe McFadden’s delivery quite stilted, which was disappointing. It was only through discussions with others that I realised this may be because the story is told through Chris’s eyes, shaping how the adults around her appear: her dad seems overly aggressive, Judy Boone is incredibly patient and loving, and Siobhan, played by Bridgette Amofah, is an encouraging and vibrant teacher.

The key to this production’s success is its simplicity, and the story it tells without flooding the audience. The portrayal of neurodiversity is moving, funny and inspired conversation within viewers as they left the auditorium.

28/09/2026

Sophie's guest on Tracks and Chats 1-3pm today is Christine Sanderson: writer, researcher, expert on model trains and Wenman Bassett-Lowke, Trustee of Northampton's 78 Derngate, the only Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed house open to the public in England. Christine will chat about her fascinations and explorations, against a track list of themes linked to trains, writing, Scotland, the Isle of Man and model train enthusiast musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and more. Wherever you are, you can listen live today 1pm-3pm, online at mkhrs.org.uk If you are into trains or architecture or just like having the radio on with some friendly chat and music, this show is for you!

23/09/2026

Waitress the Musical is at

Jenna works at Joe’s Diner with Becky and Dawn. On the surface, she’s a carefree woman with a smile for everyone, but beneath that she is trapped in an abusive marriage to Earl. When she discovers she is pregnant, she becomes convinced that her only chance of escape is to win £20,000 in a baking contest and use the money to start a new life.

Waitress is not always easy to watch, largely due to Mark Willshire’s skilful portrayal of the despicable Earl. Jenna seems to shrink with every comment he makes.

Carrie Hope Fletcher was born to play Jenna, bringing her to life with vulnerability and warmth. She doesn’t simply sing the iconic songs that define Waitress; she uses them to chart Jenna’s emotional journey with heartbreaking precision. ‘She Used to Be Mine’ had me quietly crying in my seat, while ‘Everything Changes’ becomes a tender celebration of the hope Jenna finds in parenthood, giving the song a powerful emotional resonance.

The chemistry between Dr Pomatter (Dan Partridge) and Carrie Hope Fletcher is electric, making their affair entirely believable. Watching them together is a joy, as their infidelity brings Jenna back to life and reminds her that she deserves more than the world she’s been surviving in.

The supporting cast provides welcome relief from the musical’s darker themes. As Becky and Dawn, Bernadette Bangura and Evelyn Hoskins deliver superb comic timing, landing every line with precision and repeatedly leaving the audience howling.

I adored Mark Anderson’s performance as Ogie, which balances genuine tenderness with comedy. His chemistry with Evelyn Hoskins makes it easy to root for Dawn and Ogie, whose shared eccentricity turns them into a perfect match.

The last few musicals I’ve seen have featured the band on stage, and I thoroughly enjoy this approach. The musicians remain prominent on the far right, injecting life into every song without distracting from the action, while the rest of the ensemble blends faultlessly into the production.

Waitress is a show everyone needs to see; a story of resilience, heartbreak and the courage it takes to finally choose yourself.

21/09/2026

Chairman and Principal Cornet (David) Tug Wilson is joining Sophie on Tracks and Chats 1pm-3pm today to talk about Bradwell Silver Band who are celebrating their 125th anniversary this year! We will hear about their roots in the railways, performances, development of young musicians, trophies and much much more. Music will include links to silver, railways, bands and of course brass instruments. Did you know that saxophones technically are not original components of brass bands? Want to find out out why? Indeed, is there a difference between a silver band and a brass one? Want to just hear an interesting and friendly chat with some tasty tracks intertwined? If the answer's yes, then do listen live online at mkhrs.org.uk 1pm today

15/09/2026

Visitors to Milton Keynes Theatre are being sworn to secrecy this week as Paranormal Activity takes to the stage. Like 2:22, the production asks audiences to keep its secrets firmly inside the theatre.

The story follows Lou and James, a couple who move to London in search of a fresh start. From there, the production steadily builds an atmosphere of unease that is best experienced in the theatre.

James Foy and Hannah Sinclair Robinson excel as the leads, with a natural chemistry that makes them convincing as a married couple even as subtle strains emerge in their relationship. From the outset, they present Lou and James as strong, self-assured people and, more importantly, as a team facing the world together. The disapproval of James’s evangelical mother; who objects to their move, their lack of faith and the absence of grandchildren, adds another source of pressure.

Some moments may leave audiences with questions, although discussing them in detail would risk giving too much away. Levi Holloway and Felix Barrett are experts at creating and building tension, relying very minimally on cheap jump scares, instead taking time and a mastery of sound to create tension that leaves viewers ready to jump at the slightest action.

The set appears simple, but the technical work behind it is anything but. Every inch contributes to the production’s atmosphere and intensity, while illusions designer Chris Fisher’s background as a magician is evident in the use of effects. I have seen plenty of theatrical trickery and usually pride myself on working out how it is achieved, but several illusions here left me completely baffled.

Its secrets are safest left in the theatre. For inventive stagecraft and tension that keeps you on edge, Paranormal Activity is well worth experiencing for yourself.

14/09/2026

Monday night, 8pm till 9pm, it's the patient take over! Contact the studio to let Sophie, John and Will know what track you'd like them to play for you or dedicate. They'll give you a shout out and read your special message too ... Email: [email protected] Text: 07733948197 or Voice message: 01908 690505

14/09/2026

Attention! Judy and Andy from the Hospital's Armed Forces Support Team are Sophie's guests on Tracks and Chats today 1pm-3pm. They will talk about their roles supporting Armed Forces Veterans, Leavers, Serving Personnel, Reservists, Family Members and Bereaved: patients and staff alike. We will hear how the hospital provides advice and practical solutions, as well as the wider network available across the local community and beyond. Both Judy and Andy have lived-experiences of the armed forces and will tell us a bit about those too. The music today will be by artists who served or are attached to those who have, as well as titles linked to the theme. Why not listen 1-3pm today, live on mkhrs.org.uk